You can say that again, Sam … in Latin | Letters
From Ursus Nomine Paddington to ‘Deskibus collapsibus’ – readers respond to a letter on learning the languageOur venerable Latin teacher, Mr EA Burnham, was persuaded to help us translate contemporary phrases (Letters,...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
From Ursus Nomine Paddington to ‘Deskibus collapsibus’ – readers respond to a letter on learning the language Our venerable Latin teacher, Mr EA Burnham, was persuaded to help us translate contemporary phrases ( Letters, 1 November ): the Humphrey-Bogart-style “ Dic mel da mihi intermissionem ” for “Say, honey, give me a break!”; or “ Quis est umbo huius articulum ” (“Who’s the boss of this joint?”); or for musical tastes “ Fodio saxum volumenque ” (“I dig rock’n’roll”). Sorry if the cases are erroneous – but it was more than 60 years ago. Richard Bullock Scarrington, Nottinghamshire • Brenda Grant’s letter on the Sound of Music in Latin reminded me of my own experience in the 1960s. We had a Latin mistress called Miss Mills. We gals thought we were terribly amusing by coming up with: “Millibus satibus on the deskalorum / Deskibus collapsibus / Milli on the floorum.” Continue reading...